At the recent National Day Rally, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced that Singapore's Economic Development Board (EDB) will set aside $500 million over the next five years to support a Future of Manufacturing plan that will develop new and disruptive technologies such as 3D printing. The setting up of NTU Additive Manufacturing Centre is supported by EDB and will have the latest 3D printing machines, such as laser-aided machines for building metal parts and objects for industry, and bioprinters which are able to print human tissues.

The 300sqm centre, will work closely with the manufacturing industry on R&D projects to develop new materials, software and processes leading to commercial applications.

Grooming talent pool

Besides spearheading cutting-edge research, the centre will also groom engineering talents and manpower for the industry. It will have about a hundred researchers and scientists working on dozens of new projects. NTU is therefore offering a new PhD programme to equip researchers with in-depth knowledge and expertise to lead in research and development work.

In addition, NTU will be introducing a new programme specialisation in Additive Manufacturing in the current Master's Degree programmes on Precision Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Manufacturing Systems and Engineering, at the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. Students from the Master's Degree programme will be involved in industry-based projects.

Undergraduates will also benefit from the university's drive in 3D printing. They can gain practical industry knowledge and capabilities when they work on Additive Manufacturing-related Final Year Projects or through NTU's Undergraduate Research Experience on CAmpus (URECA) programme, which allows undergraduates to pursue independent research under the supervision of a professor and acquire essential skills for further research.

Joint lab to drive research in 3D design and printing

On Aug.30, 2013, NTU also launched a joint multi-disciplinary research lab in the field of Visualisation and Prototyping (VP) with Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) to research and develop innovative techniques in 3D design and printing.

Named the VP Lab, the lab will have four research projects as a start, focusing on key areas such as large scale prototyping, multi-material additive manufacturing and embedded sensor technology. NTU said the goal is to help increase the range of products that can be made using the technology.

Meanwhile developing skilled manpower will also be a key priority at the joint lab, with NTU and SUTD contributing a total of $200,000 research funds and four PhD scholarships.